16 May 2019 Back to Poço das Pulgas, this time as a circular walk

Course

After Issi and I gave up last year, in dense rain, on the attempt to walk the Poco das Pulgas circuit, we made use of the stable weather on the north side. There were still wisps of mist from time to time, but now and then the sun did actually show itself.

Start as always on the track into the Camisa valley. There are now actually signposts too. Up the stream bed, past the ruined palheiro, up and across under the rock face, descent to the stream bed and the slippery wall, where the fixed ropes that are there are practically unusable because they are so smooth. The wall has suffered quite a bit as well; the sparse steps are gone again. Even so, up always works. Then a crossing and 2 stream crossings, up in the stream bed, and there it was, the poço. Still very peaceful, even if Spanish canyoning participants were making themselves heard very loudly behind us. They went one level higher, so as then to abseil into the poço. We only saw and heard them again when they came down the rope. That was the ideal moment to set off again.

Back to the stream crossing and first steeply up, tending rather up the valley, which is a little disconcerting. Once you have reached the height of the traverse, it goes more or less under a rock face back down the valley, always a little up and down.

At some point the path turns from north to west. There we saw clear traces of a path downwards, and also blazes on trees, presumably the continuation of the ascent I had broken off in the rock face in 2016.

Our path held its height westwards, in places a little rough around the stream beds, but always clear and rarely dangerous.

You meet the distinctly broader path that goes from Sao Vicente via Lombada das Vacas to Segunda Lombada. Very steep, in places somewhat blocked by fallen trees. The first fields follow.

Here we tried to find a direct path from this farm to the iron bridge in the upper Camisa valley. At some point, though, we got stuck in the chaos of fallen trees. So back, and on down the valley to the Levada da Cancela. We followed this briefly to the Madre, which lies in a green fern paradise. Beautiful!

Back, and on to the Levada das Feiteirinhas, a short stretch along it, and then on a path to the road. There over the bridge, where we discovered the Madre of the Levada do Lombo in the Ribeira da Camisa.

Then up on the access track towards the starting point, past the inflow of the Levada das Fontes to the large reservoir, and back to the car.

Distance: 8.3 Km, 580 Hm ascent, 580 Hm descent

Start: 09.50 Primeira Lombada

End

15.15 Primeira Lombada

Condition

The ascent is, as always, easier by the stream bed and the slippery wall. The way back is at first also very steep, and distinctly more pleasant in this direction. The traverse was in places in surprisingly good condition, as if a trail run had been prepared here. From the bend to the west, distinctly narrower, but still straightforward. Sure footing is definitely called for, though.

Remarks

According to Issi's research, the way back from the first farm to the Camisa bridge used to be continuous, and a standard link between Primeira and Segunda Lombada. I also had the feeling that we were right in direction and gradient. But the storm damage has changed the situation here fundamentally.

Thanks: Thank you to Issi for coming along!